Comparison of physique, muscular strength, flexibility, and neuromuscular function among different swimming strokes of swimmers

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to compare four sub-domains of physical fitness (physique, muscular strength, flexibility, and neuromuscular function) among different swimming strokes of highly skilled swimmers trained more than five years. One hundred and forty swimmers (20.2t2.9 yr) were categorized into six groups: sprint crawl (CR1), breast stroke (BR), back stroke (BA), butterfly stroke (BT), individual medley (IM), and long distance crawl (CR2). The Principal Factor Analysis was applied to four different correlation matrices, each consisting of various variables that represent any one of the physique, muscular strength, flexibility, and neuromuscular function sub-domains. The factor analysis, after rotation of the Normal Varimax Criterion procedure, resulted in the fol1owing inferences : 1) In a sub-domain of physique, three extracted factors were interpreted as subcutaneous fat, body linearity, and body bulk. Body linearity was found significantly superior in CR1 group to CR2 and BR groups, and in BA and IM groups to CR2 group. Body bulk was significantly greater in IM,BT, and CR1 groups as compared with BR and BA group. 2) Six factors (interpreted as arm strength, dynamic strength of arm-shoulder girdle and 1eg, static strength of abdomen, grip strength, strength of arm-shoulder girdle and explosive strength of leg, and dynamic strength abdomen) were extracted in a sub-domain of muscular strength. However, there were no distinct differences in any of the six factors between the groups. 3) Also in a sub-domain of flexibility, six factors were extracted and interpreted as trunk rotation, lateral trunk flexion, shoulder flexibility, ankle extension, ankle flexion, and trunk forward and backward flexibility. BT group as compared with CR1, CR2, and BR groups, and IM group as compared with CR2 and BR groups were found to possess significantly greater trunk rotation. Ankle extension appeared significantly superior in BA group to the other groups, and in BT group to BR, CR1 , and CR2 groups. 4) Limbs agility, trunk agility, dynamic balance, static balance, and whole body agility were five interpreted factors in a sub-domain of neuromuscular function. No distinct differences existed in any of these factors between the groups.